Microsoft today issued a brief statement promising to make "essential patents" available to competitors at fair and reasonable licensing rates, and promised not to sue companies making products that infringe these patents.

From ArsTechnica:

The actual patents themselves weren't disclosed, but Microsoft joins both Google and Apple in making recent statements on so-called fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory (FRAND) licensing terms. Such licensing terms designate certain patents as essential to complying with industry standards, making them available for licensing at (supposedly) lower-than-usual rates.

Google, or at least someone close to the company, said earlier this week that it will continue offering Motorola Mobility patents under fair terms after completing its acquisition of the company. (Coincidentally, Microsoft sued Motorola in November 2010 for refusing to offer patent licenses under fair terms.) Apple, meanwhile, went directly to the European standards body behind 3G wireless networking, suggesting that standard licensing rates be set for the patents necessary to build mobile devices. Apple has apparently refused to pay the royalty fees demanded by Motorola and Samsung, saying they are excessive for patents covered by FRAND obligations.